Why is President Lee Jae Myung holding a press conference now?

He is trying to address pending issues at a time when his approval ratings have fallen to their lowest level. The event comes amid controversies over government policies and growing public pressure on several political questions.

What will President Lee Jae Myung face questions about at the press conference?

He is expected to be asked about his and the ruling party’s push for constitutional revision, as well as issues involving his suspended trials. The conference may also touch on whether to deploy military forces to the Strait of Hormuz and the controversy over ministerial nominations.

What constitutional change are Lee Jae Myung and the Democratic Party pushing?

They are calling for a revision that would change the presidential system from a single five-year term to a four-year, two-term system. Opposition lawmakers have raised suspicions that Lee may be seeking reelection through the revision, though the Constitution says changes to the system would not apply to the sitting president.

Lee set for press conference amid falling approval ratings

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Summary

President Lee Jae Myung was set to hold a press conference Friday in an apparent attempt to bolster approval ratings that have fallen to their lowest level. The 90-minute event, announced three days earlier, will be his seventh press conference since taking office in June 2025. He is expected to face questions about constitutional revision, suspended trials, possible military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, and a ministerial nomination controversy.

Key Facts

The press conference is scheduled to run for 90 minutes from 10:30 a.m. under the slogan of people’s wishes and lives will be more closely heeded.
It will be Lee’s seventh press conference since he took office in June 2025.
Lee’s approval ratings have fallen to the mid-30 percent range in recent weeks, especially among young voters.
Lee and the ruling Democratic Party have called for a constitutional revision to replace the current single five-year presidential term with a four-year, two-term system.
Rep. Yong Hye-in gave up her nomination for gender equality minister amid mounting questions over her qualifications.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 18, 2026 8:56 am KST

President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech at the official dinner of the Korea-Central Asia Summit, held at a hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung was set to hold a press conference Friday to address pending issues in an apparent attempt to resuscitate his approval ratings that have fallen to their lowest level amid controversies surrounding government policies.

The press conference, to be held under the slogan of "people's wishes and lives will be more closely heeded," is scheduled to run for 90 minutes from 10:30 a.m.

It will mark the seventh press conference by the president since he took office in June 2025 but a rare one, given that most of his previous pressers were held in and around special occasions, such as the first year anniversary of his administration.

The event, announced three days earlier, comes after Lee saw his approval ratings decline to the lowest levels in the mid-30 percent range in recent weeks, especially among young voters.

During the conference, Lee is expected to face media questions about his and his ruling party's push for a constitutional revision, as well as issues involving his suspended trials.

The president and the ruling Democratic Party have been calling for a constitutional revision that would mandate a shift to a four-year, two-term presidential system from the current single five-year term system.

Opposition party lawmakers are pushing back, raising suspicions that the president may be seeking reelection through a constitutional revision, although the Constitution stipulates that any changes to the presidential system shall not apply to the president in office at the time of a revision.

The conference also comes amid growing calls for Lee to explain himself over suspicions that he is trying to have his indictments canceled through prosecution reform and other related moves after a number of trials he was facing were suspended following his taking office.

Other issues expected to figure prominently include whether to deploy military forces to the Strait of Hormuz amid growing U.S. pressure and a controversy over Lee's ministerial nominations, with his pick for gender equality minister, Rep. Yong Hye-in, having given up her nomination amid mounting questions over her qualifications.

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